The Linguistic Impact of Kiswahili on Kinga Language in Makete District
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Date
2018
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Ruaha Catholic University
Abstract
This study is about the impact of Kiswahili on Kikinga language as the result of their contact. The objective is to identify lexical impact of Kiswahili on Kikinga, to find out morphophonological processes emerging as a result of the contact and to identify semantic impact resulted by the contact. The study gives answers to questions such as; which lexical impact does Kiswahili cause? What morphophonological processes affect Kikinga borrowed word? And which semantic impact does Kiswahili have on Kikinga? The study used a constructivism paradigm. Approaches used were the qualitative approach and a quantitative approach. The study used a descriptive design. The sampling techniques used were probability and non-probability sampling. Research instruments used in the study were interview and documentary review. The study identified some morphophonological processes such as epenthesis, prosthesis, vowel lengthening, consonant substitution, consonant strengthening, devoicing, deletion, assimilation and vowel substitution. The study unveiled that the contact between Kiswahili and Kikinga had impact on the lexicon of Kikinga, In all categories of words grouped by the study there were intrusion of Kiswahili lexicon into Kikinga, in here, the shift stood usual (unmarked) because Kiswahili lexicon seemed to be easily adopted by native speakers of Kikinga. The findings showed that the contact between Kikinga and Kiswahili caused various morphophonological processes such as epenthesis, prosthesis, vowel lengthening, consonant substitution, consonant strengthening, devoicing, deletion, assimilation and vowel substitution. The contact was also found to have semantic impact where new lexical items with new concepts were brought to Kikinga. Such new concepts were found to exist in the fields of religion (specifically Christianity), education, agriculture, and transport, clothing and home utensils. Other semantic aspects which arose were the changes of meanings and extension of meanings. The study convincingly found that Kikinga native speakers are shifting to Kiswahili. The new generation of the Kinga is likely to have many youths whose first language is no longer Kikinga but Kiswahili. The study finally recommends further studies to be conducted to see the danger in which native languages are in as a result of their contact with Kiswahili.
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This Thesis was Published in 2018